Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev announced on Twitter that a child pornography network had been busted and congratulated prosecutors and investigators of the Cybercrime Unit on the outcome of the operation. "Our actions must be uncompromising, because this type of crime puts at risk the most precious thing for us - our children," the prosecutor wrote.

Early in the morning, searches began in homes and offices at dozens of addresses in Sofia, Varna, Haskovo and other places and arrests have been made. According to preliminary data, the pedophile network exchanged pornographic materials.

"We found videos and photos containing brutal scenes of child molestation," said Deputy Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov. A civil aviation pilot, forklift drivers, an auto mechanic, and an electrician were detained - 13 people in total. "Their profile is men between 30-40, but there are also about 60-year-olds, about 50% of them are married and with good social standing," the prosecutor added.